CHAPTER 220: THE MAN DOESN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT CASS GAVE HIM

Cass had a great time after that. He got so much reading done. He even had a little nap.

He was having such a great time that even when it fell dark and the carriages pulled into the capital, he didn’t have any concerns. Even when the message he sent was finally received just as they were finished speaking to the guards and moving into the city proper.

Cass didn’t even consider where they would be sleeping. He hadn’t thought to inform anyone. He was sure that they were going to sleep in an inn or something.

He had not considered that they should be sleeping at their namesake’s homes. Like the Blackburn manor that was in the capital. It honestly hadn’t even crossed Cass’ mind to inform anyone that he was coming.

So, when they pulled up to what was supposed to be his stop first, because it was the closest and largest home, Cass blinked several times.

He had no idea why he had considered that they were going to be staying in an inn. Maybe wish fulfillment? He wanted to stay in an inn? He’d forgotten that Lord Blackburn was a rich asshole.

Vespertine looked uncomfortable, and Lucian looked like he wanted to say several things, but was keeping his thoughts to himself. Sir Forsythe came around to the door, opening the carriage door and stared at Cass like he had several heads.

"My Lord? Are you exiting?" He asked carefully and Cass stared at the large, unsightly house that looked like a damn haunted manor and blinked a few more times. He really, really didn’t want to go in there. He could already imagine how they were going to treat him. Sir Forsythe was getting more nervous by the second and Cass finally just...told the truth.

"I didn’t let them know I was coming." Cass said, hoping he didn’t blush. Sir Forsythe, who had grown up with Cass, stared at him in shock, before his expression iced over.

"That explains all the lights being out. Well then, did you have somewhere else in mind?" He asked, not batting an eyelash. It was Vespertine who finally spoke up.

"What? Why should that matter? It’s your home." It was kind of surprising that it was Vespertine who said this, but then again, he still spoke to his Father. He might not have any issues with his parents. He didn’t think that was true, but it clearly was the case that he had a better relationship with them than Lord Blackburn. Especially Cass.

Cass knew that he wouldn’t take their treatment anymore, and he didn’t want to have to fight to be treated alright. So, anywhere else was fine.

"I think an inn will do. Where’s an inn that’s good, Sir Forsythe?" Cass asked and watched as the man didn’t seem to like that answer.

"Cass, what are you saying? You can stay with any of us. You shouldn’t stay at an inn! It’s dangerous!" Vespertine was appalled at his suggestion, and honestly? Sir Forsythe wasn’t any better. Were inns that bad during this time?

Cass stared at them, rotating his look between the two before Lucian’s soft laughter filled the carriage.

"I think our Cassian just wants to stay at an inn, gentlemen. Have you never stayed at one? Admittedly, we normally have a home that we can stay in while we’re travelling courtesy of you, or we’re camping outside. Are you looking for a new experience?" Lucian asked and that seemed to make sense to the other men. Sir Forsythe’s expression relaxed, as did his shoulders and Cass sighed.

"Was it obvious?" Cass asked carefully and Lucian smiled at him softly.

"No. I think the only reason I had an inkling about it was because of our bond. You didn’t seem...worried, just excited. There’s a good inn nearby, real high end. Lots of the nobles stay there when they want to meet up with their lovers since it meets their standards. At least the higher up ones. Or, there is one in the newer noble district that is pretty good." Cass nodded. He looked towards Sir Forsythe.

"Do you want to send Ser Hune and Sir Sanders to check them out and we can continue dropping everyone else off? I’m sure they know what I would like more." Sir Forsythe nodded, gave him a salute, and disappeared. Cass could hear the sounds of hooves on pavement, so he knew that they had rushed off rather quickly. Sir Forsythe appeared again, informing the trio what was going on.

"They seemed to know both locations and took off. We’ll continue on our way." He said, closing the door and Cass nodded.

When the door was closed and they were moving again, Vespertine gave him a strange look.

"Are you sure about this? It is more dangerous. You could stay with us." Vespertine said and Cass chuckled.

"I appreciate the offer, but it wouldn’t do me any good to stay not only with another Duke, but also with one that carries around holy power like it’s nothing." Cass told him and Vespertine frowned. His handsome face still looked handsome even as he was upset.

"I understand that, but I just don’t like the idea of...you not having as many guards as you should? I’m worried." Vespertine said and Cass chuckled.

"I’m weak in body, not in powers. I can manage. Fireball is an amazing spell, but so is water orb." Cass said and Vespertine’s eyes widened, before a slightly malicious smile touched his lips.

"Ah. Understood. Sorry. I know you are a capable mage, that wasn’t what I was doubting." Vespertine said. Cass was wondering if that wasn’t the case. He was allowed to doubt him. He was wrong, but he was allowed to do that. While Lord Blackburn had been a savant, a true nerd when it came to magic, it wasn’t like Cass was a slouch. He put in the work, thanks to Lucian’s help.

Not only that, he had learned spells he wasn’t supposed to know. Spells a human shouldn’t have been able to learn, thanks to the gods interference, and Lucian had seemed quite proud of him for his abilities as well. While he didn’t care for some of the things that Lucian did and said, being told by a dragon, a mythical being that he was good at magic?

Anyone would be proud of that, especially since Lucian didn’t strike him as the type to lie to get into someone’s pants.

The carriage rumbled on, and Cass nodded.

"I’m not taking it personally. I just...I’ve gotten used to being treated a certain way, and I’m just curious how others will treat me. It’s a bit of a litmus test." Cass said, and watched as confusion clouded both of their expressions.

"A litmus test? For what?" Cass held his breath as Vespertine asked the question, wondering if he was going to have to explain what that was. He had no fucking clue what a litmus test was, just that it was a phrase that people said sometimes. Thank fuck he didn’t have to go into more details.

"Ah, well, to see how people react to seeing me?" Cass suggested mildly. Both men stared at him for a long moment before Lucian groaned, covering his face.

"What? Are you being serious right now? This is a test for how people view you? What? Are you going to get food from them too? Gods above, now I’m worried about what you’re going to get up to." Lucian muttered and Cass sighed.

"Nothing crazy. I’m just going to order some food, if I can’t eat it, pass it off to the others and eat from my stocks, and get a bath and go to sleep. Maybe some more reading." Cass suggested and Vespertine glared at the book in his lap.

"More reading? I can’t understand this. I hate reading. I’ve had to do so much of it throughout my life, I have a hard time understanding why you do it for fun." So the truth finally came out. Vespertine wasn’t much of a reader. That didn’t really surprise him. Vespertine had to do a lot of reading as the son of the High Priest. He probably had to be perfect in ways that Cass never had to be, because no one had expectations of Lord Blackburn.

He had to make his own standards of behaviour. People would have been happy if he had died. That was the honest truth. Cass didn’t know Vespertine’s living situation, but from how he reacted and was treated, he didn’t think it was the same for him.

Lucian probably had a closer upbringing to Cass, or Fiona. Certainly not Lady Ava as she grew up with two loving families, and Lord Ridgewood was just a blank space that Cass didn’t really care to know more about. Maybe as a reader, yes, but as a person?

No thank you.

"I doubt you’ve wanted to escape your reality, have you, Vespertine?" Cass asked casually, and he paused. He stared at Cass, who had a soft smile on his face, his book still in his lap. He wasn’t opening it since he was now looking out the windows, checking out the dim streets as they rolled through town, two carriages of clear standing.

"I don’t understand how those two things are related. What does it matter if I wanted to escape my reality? Does reading help that?" Oh, how naive. Cass chuckled, opening his little pouch and pulling out one of the more tame romance novels he brought. It wasn’t obvious it was a BL book, and he handed it over to Vespertine, a little smirk on his face.

Vespertine took it, holding out his hands to accept it while Cass smiled at him, a little sparkle in his eye.

"I don’t think reading scripture and other books count as fun reading. While I also enjoy reading about magic, because I like it, I don’t think you love the doctrine you preach to the same level that others do. Give that a try. Don’t show anyone you have it, or tell anyone where you got it. It’s technically illegal." Cass said and Vespertine’s gaze widened.

"Illegal? What is this book?" Vespertine asked as the carriages came to a stop once more.

"It’s a book about two boys liking each other." Cass told him as the door opened.

"My Lord, we are here." It was one of Vespertine’s men, and Cass could hear Lady Ava saying goodbye to Fiona tearfully and Vespertine stared at the book before he sighed. He shoved it into his spatial bag before he glanced between Lucian and Cass.

"I’ll...see you in the morning? Could you please send me a message letting me know where you are staying once you make your decision of where you are staying? To ease any concerns I have?" Cass wondered if he should. But, he was an asshole, but not a crazy asshole. They had meetings and shit tomorrow, it would make things easier.

"I can do that once I make a decision. Have a good night, Vespertine." He brightened as Cass wished him a good night. He nodded vigorously, a smile touching his lips that made him look like a damn god.

"You as well! I hope you have a warm and easy sleep, Cass." He told him, meaning it, and Cass nodded, ignoring the way that his smile and genuine well wishes made him feel. The man had a long way to go.

Cass was so caught up in everything else that he forgot that now with Vespertine gone, it was just him and Lucian in the carriage now.